Kitty Felde

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Two Los Angeles Democrats are trying again to get the Federal Aviation Administration to allow curfews at regional airports in Burbank and Van Nuys, after years of complaints by residents about late night jet noise.

Bob Hope Airport in Burbank was one of the first airports in the country to ban late night flying. Van Nuys Airport had a partial curfew. But federal law got rid of local restrictions.

Burbank then spent millions of dollars over a decade trying to persuade the FAA to allow a 10 pm to 7 am curfew. The FAA turned the city down, saying it would create an "undue burden on commerce."

Congressmen Adam Schiff of Burbank and Brad Sherman of Sherman Oaks are introducing the "Valley-Wide Noise Relief Act." Schiff said these communities should be allowed to keep the curfews the had in place before Congress preempted local control.

The lawmakers attached similar legislation to the FAA budget bill 2 years ago. It had bipartisan support, but not enough votes to pass the House.

Schiff said he's trying to convince more lawmakers to support it, though it might be more effective if he could do it in the Valley where their conversation would be drowned out by air traffic noise.

Previously in Represent!

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